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Browncoats at World’s End
Chapter 16: Incognito
-
Port Royal
While he disliked many aspects of the 18th century, Malcolm did appreciate the architecture of the buildings. Many were not too tall and made with enough rough edges for afoot hold, unlike the sleek buildings that were on many of the core planets. Some of the buildings even had stacks of crates and barrels next to it. It was perfect for him and Kaylee to be able to climb up to the roof and wait.
“The sky is getting lighter, Cap’n.” Kaylee said from her place besides him.
“It sure is,” Malcolm knew they didn’t have much time left. They have over heard Norrington’s ship was set to leave at around dawn and while Malcolm could not see the golden horizon he did notice the sky towards the east had become a lighter shade of blue, a prologue to dawn. Mal had reckoned it was around between five thirty and six.
“I almost wish we could watch the sunrise. It would be pretty from where we are standing.”
Mal tried not to roll his eyes. “Don’t have much time to appreciate the pretty parts here. Now I promise when we get back you can watch all the sunrises you want. I bet you can even spend the night on Jonas’s roof along with the doc and watch it from there.” He saw her smile at the idea before he turned back to the two people he was staring at. A soldier and woman dressed as a serving maid.
The soldier was Simon, whose disguise was able to convince a serving maid to speak with him long enough for Inara to knock her out and steal her clothes. The companion didn’t want to leave her dress behind. Mal convinced her he would buy her a new one.
“Zoe and Jayne will find the guy we are looking for,” Kaylee said. “They have a good hours start, maybe two hours.”
“I hope it was enough.” They spent the post midnight hours dodging through shadows and hiding behind and between buildings. While on one roof near the docks they saw a ship sail away. Mal was sure, or at least he hoped, it was the Haven. “I’m counting on Zoe and Jayne, well I’m counting on Zoe and I’m counting on the others.”
“They will get there.” Kaylee said before her eyes widened and she pointed to the ground.
Mal turned to see what she was pointing at. Two more naval officers were about to walk past the building they were on, and one of them seemed tall enough for Mal. He pushed himself off the roof with enough shove to send him towards the taller officer with Kaylee right behind him.
“A bit sorry about this,” Malcolm said once he landed on the officer and briefly looked around to see if anyone else was around. “But you have to put yourself in our shoes.” He struck the man in the back of the head. “Actually we need to put ourselves in your shoes.” He rolled off the unconscious man and turned to see if Kaylee needed help with the other. She was able to knock the other man out with Inara’s help.
“I’ll keep watch,” Simon said as Mal and the women dragged the soldiers into the alley. The doctor turned his back and stood in what Mal guessed was Simon’s idea of a soldier posture. When everything works out Mal was going to have a discussion with that boy.
“Gotta do this real quick,” Mal removed his boots. He was going to keep his shirt but leave his pants and boots. He had plenty more clothes on Serenity and even had an extra pair of boots.
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Inara had already removed the coat and shoes from one of the officers.
“Good thing you did come. I figure no one else could remove a man’s clothes as fast as you can.” His smile faded when he caught Inara’s glare. “I know, best not to joke.” He paused in removing his pants when he heard a zipper being pulled down.
Kaylee had removed her own shoes and was slipping out of her work clothes. Her overalls were undone and slid the material down.
“Kaylee?” Mal gasped before she could completely remove them. “What are you doing?”
“I’m disguising myself,” she answered in a tone that asked Mal if he had forgotten his plan.
“But that’s a man.” Mal pointed at the other soldier. “We were going to find another bonnet wearing gal for you.”
“And we don’t have the time.” Kaylee pointed out.
Mal turned away before she could finish removing her overalls and concentrated on his own clothes. “You do understand we are trying to disguise ourselves right?”
“I know. Inara can help me put my hair under the wig and this uniform has a lot of stuff. It can hide my…” She trailed off.
“Stuff,” Mal finished for her. He had noticed Simon’s ears had turned pink during the conversation. Best not to speak any more on the subject. He slipped on the soldier’s pants and socks first before he grabbed the the rest of the clothes.
“What are we going to do with them?” Inara pointed to the soldiers while Mal finished the top half of his uniform. The doctor was right. It wasn’t too uncomfortable, although he had a slight problem with the shoes. They pinched his toes a bit.
“What did you do with the servant girl?” Mal turned to face the women after he placed the wig and hat on his head. He felt ridiculous and probably looked it.
“I used one of my scarves as a gag and put her in a barrel.” Inara managed to pull Kaylee’s hair back and tied it with something before she slipped it under the collar.
“We’ll do the same with them.” Mal instructed and pointed to a few crates. “Poke a few holes so they can still breath.”
“Yes Cap’n,” Kaylee saluted, trying to make her voice sound deeper.
“I just hope nobody notices you are too pretty to be a soldier.” Mal said as he grabbed a near naked soldier by the ankles and dragged him to a crate.
-
China Sea
Jack Sparrow tried not to pay much attention as Anamaria rolled up the sleeve on his injured arm. He glanced once at the deep cut, inflicted by Lady Phoenix’s fan and turned away. His eyes met with the others in the cabin of the Luna Ghost, Gibbs, Barbossa, the monkey, Turner, Elizabeth, and Pintel and Ragetti.
“I know you all have questions,” Jack said. “Threatening to escape from your mouths they are, but you have to use your lips as cages. Although considering that you all are about to talk it’s best to not go at once. Gibbs, why don’t you go first, mate?”
“How do you know they are not going to go after us?” His weathered first mate asked.
“They are going to come after us,” Jack answered. “There really is no question about that.”
“You didn’t destroy Feng’s ship?” Barbossa asked.
“Of course not,” Jack cringed when he felt a very warm cloth being pressed against the cut. “Easy love.”
“You don’t want this to become infected,” Anamaria said. She had warmed up a teapot of water in the galley and poured it into a bowl before dropping the cloth in it. “I have to clean it with the best with what we have.”
“Perhaps the shaman might have something.” Elizabeth suggested.
Turner shook his head. “We don’t have enough time to visit that Shaman again. We need to get Jack on The Black Pearl and sail back to the Caribbean.” He gave Elizabeth a harsh look before turning back to Jack.
“The boy has a point.” Jack said. “I will be fine, just a little scratch.”
“We won’t be fine,” Barbossa stood up from where he sat. “Not when Feng catches up with us.”
“You forgot one thing,” Jack said through clenched teeth. Anamaria’s cleaning caused a burning pain. “We will be aboard the Pearl and nobody can catch her.”
“Except for the Kraken,” Pintel brought up.
“I said nobody, not nothing.’ He pointed at Barbossa. “And I did give us a head start. While Sao was kissing this table I did manage to break a chain of his. It will take some time to get it repaired and by then we have my ship back and already on the way out of this sea.”
“What about the fire?” Ragetti asked. “There was a lot of smoke.”
Jack chuckled. “The smoke was caused by the reason Sao wanted my head in the first place.” He sat back and breathed deeply. “He thought I had come upon a tryst with the mysterious Lady Phoenix.”
“The fortune teller,” Gibbs smiled at the memory before he shook his head. “I warned ye she be nothing but trouble. Never get involved with a woman who sees things that she shouldn’t see. That is my motto, that is if I had a motto.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked coldly.
“Not women like ye, Miss Swann.” Gibbs held up his hands. “Same warning should be taken by women such as yerself and never get involved with a man who can see things he shouldn’t see.”
“Other people having sex?” Pintel asked.
“The face of God?” Ragetti suggested.
“Events that haven’t happened yet,” Will said. “Those who are like Tia Dalma.”
“Aye,” Gibbs said. “Those who can see someone’s future, or know about their past when they had only just met them.”
“Perhaps we should get back to the story.” Anamaria suggested. She had placed the damp cloth back into the bowl and grabbed several other strips of cloth.
“Lady Phoenix is a woman of many talents.” Jack smiled at the memories when first met her. “One of which—and these are her words and not my own so try not to judge me on them—is that she is an excellent lover.”
“A whore,” both Pintel and Ragetti grinned.
“That is what I took it as myself,” Jack nodded. “I noticed a few things around her house. Things that reminded me of Sao Feng, like the sheath of his sword for instance. I thought she was his personal mistress.”
“And you slept with her.” Turner said.
Jack furrowed his brow. “Why does everyone think that of me?”
“Your reputation,” Will pointed out.
“Ah that would be it.” He nodded. “Because of her connection with Sao I didn’t sleep with her.”
“Then why is he after you?”
“Because I didn’t sleep with his sister. Lady Phoenix is his sister, not his personal mistress and I only found that out now when she and I had a nice little chat.”
“Where you got this?” Anamaria asked of his wound.
“Well we did have a fight.”
“You need to explain yourself better, Jack.” Barbossa folded his arms. “None of us is following what you are saying.”
“Isn’t it worse that she is his sister?” Elizabeth asked. “Wouldn’t he be more angry if you had?”
Jack nodded. “He thought I did. She just told him I had hurt her and being the loving and devoting older brother that he is he formed a bit of a grudge.”
“She wanted you that bad,” Gibbs smirked.
“I am Captain Jack Sparrow, am I not?” Jack smiled. His grin faded when he met the gaze of the others. Pintel and Ragetti had blank expressions, Elizabeth merely frowned and Barbossa had rolled his eyes back. Turner’s glare was sharper than Lady Phoenix’s fans.
“You have upset her long enough for her to give you this,” Anamaria said as she finished dressing Jack’s wound.
“We had a bit of a fight first before we could have a bit of a talk. That does usually happen more often than I like.”
“This is the same woman who set fire to her brother’s ship?” Elizabeth asked. “He dotes on her and she does this?”
Jack shrugged. “Feng loves her but wants her to be a dragon and she wants to be a phoenix and I don’t really think she set fire to the ship per say. I don’t know what she exactly did. I was busy with the rudder chain.”
“Perhaps it would be best if we return to the deck.” Barbossa instructed.
“Right,” Jack said as he pulled his sleeve down over the dressings. He sat up when everyone but Barbossa and Anamaria had left. “Is there something wrong?”
“This isn’t yer ship,” Barbossa told him.
“Neither is it yours,” Anamaria placed her hands on her hips. “You were the captain on the expedition.” She pointed to Jack. “Expedition is over. You can both get out.”
“Don’t you want me to stay, Ana love?” Jack asked.
“Out.”
It was the way that she said it and the look in her eyes. Jack didn’t need to be told to get out once more.
-
Port Royal
River Tam had remained hidden when the other naval officers had come in and gone. James had told her not to leave the ship. She had gone outside, wandered around on the top deck to see the sky and feel the wind. The other naval officers stared at her at first. James had given them the instructions that she was allowed around the ship, even though she preferred to stay in James’s cabin. She felt safe there and she had to keep and eye on him. They promised to each other. After the last of the innocent people from Tortuga were let off she had to stay within his cabin at all times. It was a new mission.
She had returned to her hiding place under the desk when she heard several officers outside the door and stayed until she could no longer hear them. She could hear their mind voices, but they were outside the cabin. She would be able to tell when they tried to climb aboard the ship.
What River did pick up in their mind voices was they were placing strange weapons and folded sheets of paper around the cabin. River sought out to find them, staying away from the papers on James’s desk. She did find the weapons on another table, Zoë’s gun, Malcolm’s gun and Jayne’s weapons.
“Vera,” She touched Jayne’s favorite weapon when she heard James’s mind voice getting louder. Do not peek, do not try to read, focus on Vera.
“I would normally advise a young woman such as yourself to not get too close to such weaponry.” James said as soon as he closed the door behind him. “But you are more familiar with them than I am.”
River turned around when she heard James speaking to her. “I don’t know Vera. Jayne would get upset if I did.”
“We all have our prize possessions,” James removed both his hat and his wig and set them on the wooden dummy. “I am certain this Mr. Cobb should be told that no one has used his Vera.”
River tried not to laugh with how James had used a formality with Jayne. “There were papers, screens that told who we are.”
“I believe they were placed on my desk.” James walked up to where River had seen the new folded papers and picked one up. “I have to say this technology is amazing.” He unfolded it and stared at the changing words.
“You know when I’m from. You know more about me, about us. You understand why the small man only listens to the bad voice.”
“I understand it is not right to keep you and your crew here,” He continued to read the paper screen. “Even if you are pirates in a different sense.”
“Smugglers and thievery,” River corrected. “We do what pays us. Piracy steals and keeps what they take. We steal or transport what is not clean and are paid.”
James nodded.
“You listened to good voice and gave them the idea.”
“It was all that I could do. How competent is your captain?”
“He gets the job done.’ She waited for James to set the screen down. “He is like you.”
“Captain Reynolds was a soldier.” James nodded.
“Fought for what was right, understood his orders. He fought for what he believed in and lost it all. Serenity Valley was your hurricane. His soldiers, friends were gone.”
He clenched his hands. “The hurricane that destroyed the Dauntless is a painful subject for me.” He rolled up his sleeve over his brand and scars. “As was this. I can relate to the horrors he had seen. I barely met the man, but I would like to speak with him. Hopefully that might be soon if my plan works.”
“It did work.” She could feel her brother, Kaylee, Mal and Inara getting close. She didn’t feel Zoe or Jayne and that worried her a bit. “They are here.”
-
Malcolm watched four of the bonnet wearing serving women as they boarded the Intrepid. The fourth woman was Inara and he kept a good eye on the group. Both Simon and Kaylee flanked his sides. They were still in the shadows but stood like soldiers.
“She’s in,” Simon whispered when Inara had set foot on the upper deck and followed the women to where their quarters would be. The only reaction she gained from the soldiers was a simple nod.
“Now its our turn,” Mal turned to the couple. “Remember our cover story on why you are missing some weapons and my nose is messed up.” He pointed to Simon.
“Training exercise,” Simon nodded. “Possibly some cover names.”
“Kevin Winnit,” Kaylee suggested, still using her deep voice.
“Roger Eavesdown,” Simon said.
Mal nodded at both of their names. “Martin Core,” he thought of one of his mother’s ranch hands “That is a rather nice name.” He tried to mimic the accent used by Englishmen. He blinked when he saw Simon and Kaylee stare at him shock. “We have to try to sound like them. How was I?”
“Surprisingly good,” Simon said.
“I hope we can sound that well.” Kaylee added.
“Don’t strain your voice,” Simon told her. “I guess if River can do it then I can.”
“Try to keep it polished like that Beckett and Norrington and not sound like Badger.” Malcolm coughed. “Lets go.” He marched out first, heading straight for the Intrepid.
The two soldiers flanking the dock and the plank did not even blink as they boarded. Nobody seemed to notice them, not until they stepped onto the deck.
“Hold it.” One of the Naval officers held out a hand in front of him.
“Is anything the problem?” Mal asked, using the accent he had tried before. If Jayne had heard and seen him he would be laughing.
The officer squinted. “What happened to your nose?”
“Oh this?” Mal pointed at his injury before pointing at Simon. “Training accident with Mr. Eavesdown here. It was the reason I confiscated his cutlass.”
“Sorry sir,” Simon answered in a pretty impressive accent himself.
“He will have to borrow another from the gun deck.” The soldier stared at Simon. “And it seems he is missing his pistol.”
“He’s a bit daft in the morning,” Mal explained. “Must have forgotten it.’
“These are ungodly hours,” Simon added.
The naval officer nodded and smiled weakly. “I nearly had forgotten my shoes myself. Welcome aboard.”
Mal nodded before the three of them passed by him. That was a bit easy. Hopefully the rest of the plan will work out.
-
Chapter 16: Incognito
-
Port Royal
While he disliked many aspects of the 18th century, Malcolm did appreciate the architecture of the buildings. Many were not too tall and made with enough rough edges for afoot hold, unlike the sleek buildings that were on many of the core planets. Some of the buildings even had stacks of crates and barrels next to it. It was perfect for him and Kaylee to be able to climb up to the roof and wait.
“The sky is getting lighter, Cap’n.” Kaylee said from her place besides him.
“It sure is,” Malcolm knew they didn’t have much time left. They have over heard Norrington’s ship was set to leave at around dawn and while Malcolm could not see the golden horizon he did notice the sky towards the east had become a lighter shade of blue, a prologue to dawn. Mal had reckoned it was around between five thirty and six.
“I almost wish we could watch the sunrise. It would be pretty from where we are standing.”
Mal tried not to roll his eyes. “Don’t have much time to appreciate the pretty parts here. Now I promise when we get back you can watch all the sunrises you want. I bet you can even spend the night on Jonas’s roof along with the doc and watch it from there.” He saw her smile at the idea before he turned back to the two people he was staring at. A soldier and woman dressed as a serving maid.
The soldier was Simon, whose disguise was able to convince a serving maid to speak with him long enough for Inara to knock her out and steal her clothes. The companion didn’t want to leave her dress behind. Mal convinced her he would buy her a new one.
“Zoe and Jayne will find the guy we are looking for,” Kaylee said. “They have a good hours start, maybe two hours.”
“I hope it was enough.” They spent the post midnight hours dodging through shadows and hiding behind and between buildings. While on one roof near the docks they saw a ship sail away. Mal was sure, or at least he hoped, it was the Haven. “I’m counting on Zoe and Jayne, well I’m counting on Zoe and I’m counting on the others.”
“They will get there.” Kaylee said before her eyes widened and she pointed to the ground.
Mal turned to see what she was pointing at. Two more naval officers were about to walk past the building they were on, and one of them seemed tall enough for Mal. He pushed himself off the roof with enough shove to send him towards the taller officer with Kaylee right behind him.
“A bit sorry about this,” Malcolm said once he landed on the officer and briefly looked around to see if anyone else was around. “But you have to put yourself in our shoes.” He struck the man in the back of the head. “Actually we need to put ourselves in your shoes.” He rolled off the unconscious man and turned to see if Kaylee needed help with the other. She was able to knock the other man out with Inara’s help.
“I’ll keep watch,” Simon said as Mal and the women dragged the soldiers into the alley. The doctor turned his back and stood in what Mal guessed was Simon’s idea of a soldier posture. When everything works out Mal was going to have a discussion with that boy.
“Gotta do this real quick,” Mal removed his boots. He was going to keep his shirt but leave his pants and boots. He had plenty more clothes on Serenity and even had an extra pair of boots.
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Inara had already removed the coat and shoes from one of the officers.
“Good thing you did come. I figure no one else could remove a man’s clothes as fast as you can.” His smile faded when he caught Inara’s glare. “I know, best not to joke.” He paused in removing his pants when he heard a zipper being pulled down.
Kaylee had removed her own shoes and was slipping out of her work clothes. Her overalls were undone and slid the material down.
“Kaylee?” Mal gasped before she could completely remove them. “What are you doing?”
“I’m disguising myself,” she answered in a tone that asked Mal if he had forgotten his plan.
“But that’s a man.” Mal pointed at the other soldier. “We were going to find another bonnet wearing gal for you.”
“And we don’t have the time.” Kaylee pointed out.
Mal turned away before she could finish removing her overalls and concentrated on his own clothes. “You do understand we are trying to disguise ourselves right?”
“I know. Inara can help me put my hair under the wig and this uniform has a lot of stuff. It can hide my…” She trailed off.
“Stuff,” Mal finished for her. He had noticed Simon’s ears had turned pink during the conversation. Best not to speak any more on the subject. He slipped on the soldier’s pants and socks first before he grabbed the the rest of the clothes.
“What are we going to do with them?” Inara pointed to the soldiers while Mal finished the top half of his uniform. The doctor was right. It wasn’t too uncomfortable, although he had a slight problem with the shoes. They pinched his toes a bit.
“What did you do with the servant girl?” Mal turned to face the women after he placed the wig and hat on his head. He felt ridiculous and probably looked it.
“I used one of my scarves as a gag and put her in a barrel.” Inara managed to pull Kaylee’s hair back and tied it with something before she slipped it under the collar.
“We’ll do the same with them.” Mal instructed and pointed to a few crates. “Poke a few holes so they can still breath.”
“Yes Cap’n,” Kaylee saluted, trying to make her voice sound deeper.
“I just hope nobody notices you are too pretty to be a soldier.” Mal said as he grabbed a near naked soldier by the ankles and dragged him to a crate.
-
China Sea
Jack Sparrow tried not to pay much attention as Anamaria rolled up the sleeve on his injured arm. He glanced once at the deep cut, inflicted by Lady Phoenix’s fan and turned away. His eyes met with the others in the cabin of the Luna Ghost, Gibbs, Barbossa, the monkey, Turner, Elizabeth, and Pintel and Ragetti.
“I know you all have questions,” Jack said. “Threatening to escape from your mouths they are, but you have to use your lips as cages. Although considering that you all are about to talk it’s best to not go at once. Gibbs, why don’t you go first, mate?”
“How do you know they are not going to go after us?” His weathered first mate asked.
“They are going to come after us,” Jack answered. “There really is no question about that.”
“You didn’t destroy Feng’s ship?” Barbossa asked.
“Of course not,” Jack cringed when he felt a very warm cloth being pressed against the cut. “Easy love.”
“You don’t want this to become infected,” Anamaria said. She had warmed up a teapot of water in the galley and poured it into a bowl before dropping the cloth in it. “I have to clean it with the best with what we have.”
“Perhaps the shaman might have something.” Elizabeth suggested.
Turner shook his head. “We don’t have enough time to visit that Shaman again. We need to get Jack on The Black Pearl and sail back to the Caribbean.” He gave Elizabeth a harsh look before turning back to Jack.
“The boy has a point.” Jack said. “I will be fine, just a little scratch.”
“We won’t be fine,” Barbossa stood up from where he sat. “Not when Feng catches up with us.”
“You forgot one thing,” Jack said through clenched teeth. Anamaria’s cleaning caused a burning pain. “We will be aboard the Pearl and nobody can catch her.”
“Except for the Kraken,” Pintel brought up.
“I said nobody, not nothing.’ He pointed at Barbossa. “And I did give us a head start. While Sao was kissing this table I did manage to break a chain of his. It will take some time to get it repaired and by then we have my ship back and already on the way out of this sea.”
“What about the fire?” Ragetti asked. “There was a lot of smoke.”
Jack chuckled. “The smoke was caused by the reason Sao wanted my head in the first place.” He sat back and breathed deeply. “He thought I had come upon a tryst with the mysterious Lady Phoenix.”
“The fortune teller,” Gibbs smiled at the memory before he shook his head. “I warned ye she be nothing but trouble. Never get involved with a woman who sees things that she shouldn’t see. That is my motto, that is if I had a motto.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked coldly.
“Not women like ye, Miss Swann.” Gibbs held up his hands. “Same warning should be taken by women such as yerself and never get involved with a man who can see things he shouldn’t see.”
“Other people having sex?” Pintel asked.
“The face of God?” Ragetti suggested.
“Events that haven’t happened yet,” Will said. “Those who are like Tia Dalma.”
“Aye,” Gibbs said. “Those who can see someone’s future, or know about their past when they had only just met them.”
“Perhaps we should get back to the story.” Anamaria suggested. She had placed the damp cloth back into the bowl and grabbed several other strips of cloth.
“Lady Phoenix is a woman of many talents.” Jack smiled at the memories when first met her. “One of which—and these are her words and not my own so try not to judge me on them—is that she is an excellent lover.”
“A whore,” both Pintel and Ragetti grinned.
“That is what I took it as myself,” Jack nodded. “I noticed a few things around her house. Things that reminded me of Sao Feng, like the sheath of his sword for instance. I thought she was his personal mistress.”
“And you slept with her.” Turner said.
Jack furrowed his brow. “Why does everyone think that of me?”
“Your reputation,” Will pointed out.
“Ah that would be it.” He nodded. “Because of her connection with Sao I didn’t sleep with her.”
“Then why is he after you?”
“Because I didn’t sleep with his sister. Lady Phoenix is his sister, not his personal mistress and I only found that out now when she and I had a nice little chat.”
“Where you got this?” Anamaria asked of his wound.
“Well we did have a fight.”
“You need to explain yourself better, Jack.” Barbossa folded his arms. “None of us is following what you are saying.”
“Isn’t it worse that she is his sister?” Elizabeth asked. “Wouldn’t he be more angry if you had?”
Jack nodded. “He thought I did. She just told him I had hurt her and being the loving and devoting older brother that he is he formed a bit of a grudge.”
“She wanted you that bad,” Gibbs smirked.
“I am Captain Jack Sparrow, am I not?” Jack smiled. His grin faded when he met the gaze of the others. Pintel and Ragetti had blank expressions, Elizabeth merely frowned and Barbossa had rolled his eyes back. Turner’s glare was sharper than Lady Phoenix’s fans.
“You have upset her long enough for her to give you this,” Anamaria said as she finished dressing Jack’s wound.
“We had a bit of a fight first before we could have a bit of a talk. That does usually happen more often than I like.”
“This is the same woman who set fire to her brother’s ship?” Elizabeth asked. “He dotes on her and she does this?”
Jack shrugged. “Feng loves her but wants her to be a dragon and she wants to be a phoenix and I don’t really think she set fire to the ship per say. I don’t know what she exactly did. I was busy with the rudder chain.”
“Perhaps it would be best if we return to the deck.” Barbossa instructed.
“Right,” Jack said as he pulled his sleeve down over the dressings. He sat up when everyone but Barbossa and Anamaria had left. “Is there something wrong?”
“This isn’t yer ship,” Barbossa told him.
“Neither is it yours,” Anamaria placed her hands on her hips. “You were the captain on the expedition.” She pointed to Jack. “Expedition is over. You can both get out.”
“Don’t you want me to stay, Ana love?” Jack asked.
“Out.”
It was the way that she said it and the look in her eyes. Jack didn’t need to be told to get out once more.
-
Port Royal
River Tam had remained hidden when the other naval officers had come in and gone. James had told her not to leave the ship. She had gone outside, wandered around on the top deck to see the sky and feel the wind. The other naval officers stared at her at first. James had given them the instructions that she was allowed around the ship, even though she preferred to stay in James’s cabin. She felt safe there and she had to keep and eye on him. They promised to each other. After the last of the innocent people from Tortuga were let off she had to stay within his cabin at all times. It was a new mission.
She had returned to her hiding place under the desk when she heard several officers outside the door and stayed until she could no longer hear them. She could hear their mind voices, but they were outside the cabin. She would be able to tell when they tried to climb aboard the ship.
What River did pick up in their mind voices was they were placing strange weapons and folded sheets of paper around the cabin. River sought out to find them, staying away from the papers on James’s desk. She did find the weapons on another table, Zoë’s gun, Malcolm’s gun and Jayne’s weapons.
“Vera,” She touched Jayne’s favorite weapon when she heard James’s mind voice getting louder. Do not peek, do not try to read, focus on Vera.
“I would normally advise a young woman such as yourself to not get too close to such weaponry.” James said as soon as he closed the door behind him. “But you are more familiar with them than I am.”
River turned around when she heard James speaking to her. “I don’t know Vera. Jayne would get upset if I did.”
“We all have our prize possessions,” James removed both his hat and his wig and set them on the wooden dummy. “I am certain this Mr. Cobb should be told that no one has used his Vera.”
River tried not to laugh with how James had used a formality with Jayne. “There were papers, screens that told who we are.”
“I believe they were placed on my desk.” James walked up to where River had seen the new folded papers and picked one up. “I have to say this technology is amazing.” He unfolded it and stared at the changing words.
“You know when I’m from. You know more about me, about us. You understand why the small man only listens to the bad voice.”
“I understand it is not right to keep you and your crew here,” He continued to read the paper screen. “Even if you are pirates in a different sense.”
“Smugglers and thievery,” River corrected. “We do what pays us. Piracy steals and keeps what they take. We steal or transport what is not clean and are paid.”
James nodded.
“You listened to good voice and gave them the idea.”
“It was all that I could do. How competent is your captain?”
“He gets the job done.’ She waited for James to set the screen down. “He is like you.”
“Captain Reynolds was a soldier.” James nodded.
“Fought for what was right, understood his orders. He fought for what he believed in and lost it all. Serenity Valley was your hurricane. His soldiers, friends were gone.”
He clenched his hands. “The hurricane that destroyed the Dauntless is a painful subject for me.” He rolled up his sleeve over his brand and scars. “As was this. I can relate to the horrors he had seen. I barely met the man, but I would like to speak with him. Hopefully that might be soon if my plan works.”
“It did work.” She could feel her brother, Kaylee, Mal and Inara getting close. She didn’t feel Zoe or Jayne and that worried her a bit. “They are here.”
-
Malcolm watched four of the bonnet wearing serving women as they boarded the Intrepid. The fourth woman was Inara and he kept a good eye on the group. Both Simon and Kaylee flanked his sides. They were still in the shadows but stood like soldiers.
“She’s in,” Simon whispered when Inara had set foot on the upper deck and followed the women to where their quarters would be. The only reaction she gained from the soldiers was a simple nod.
“Now its our turn,” Mal turned to the couple. “Remember our cover story on why you are missing some weapons and my nose is messed up.” He pointed to Simon.
“Training exercise,” Simon nodded. “Possibly some cover names.”
“Kevin Winnit,” Kaylee suggested, still using her deep voice.
“Roger Eavesdown,” Simon said.
Mal nodded at both of their names. “Martin Core,” he thought of one of his mother’s ranch hands “That is a rather nice name.” He tried to mimic the accent used by Englishmen. He blinked when he saw Simon and Kaylee stare at him shock. “We have to try to sound like them. How was I?”
“Surprisingly good,” Simon said.
“I hope we can sound that well.” Kaylee added.
“Don’t strain your voice,” Simon told her. “I guess if River can do it then I can.”
“Try to keep it polished like that Beckett and Norrington and not sound like Badger.” Malcolm coughed. “Lets go.” He marched out first, heading straight for the Intrepid.
The two soldiers flanking the dock and the plank did not even blink as they boarded. Nobody seemed to notice them, not until they stepped onto the deck.
“Hold it.” One of the Naval officers held out a hand in front of him.
“Is anything the problem?” Mal asked, using the accent he had tried before. If Jayne had heard and seen him he would be laughing.
The officer squinted. “What happened to your nose?”
“Oh this?” Mal pointed at his injury before pointing at Simon. “Training accident with Mr. Eavesdown here. It was the reason I confiscated his cutlass.”
“Sorry sir,” Simon answered in a pretty impressive accent himself.
“He will have to borrow another from the gun deck.” The soldier stared at Simon. “And it seems he is missing his pistol.”
“He’s a bit daft in the morning,” Mal explained. “Must have forgotten it.’
“These are ungodly hours,” Simon added.
The naval officer nodded and smiled weakly. “I nearly had forgotten my shoes myself. Welcome aboard.”
Mal nodded before the three of them passed by him. That was a bit easy. Hopefully the rest of the plan will work out.
-
